GOOSANDER 
she is siiiToundod appearing to vary in colour from a creamy salmon to a dull slate. One moment half or 
three fourths of the brood show up the former conspicuous tint, while shortly after a transformation takes 
place and the colours arc reversed. A glance through a strong binocular at once solves the mystery, and 
reveals the half-fledged Juveniles spreading themselves ont to enjoy the warmth of the sun. From time to 
time a portion of the brood turn over on their hacks, remaining often in this position for several seconds ; the 
next minute a bird or two may he seen, each with one foot flapping iu the air and paddling slowly round 
with the other; while engaged in these antics the bright colours of the underparts arc clearly exposed 
to view. 
Such an appearance would he presented by a brood from five to seven weeks old ; at this age the head, neck, 
and hack still retain a quantity of the brown-tinted down, while the breast and belly are thickly feathered, the 
plumage being of much the same creamy salmon hue as that of the adult male. I have repeatedly watched 
this performance in still sunny weather, and remarked that till the young arrive at the ago of a month or five 
weeks the female seldom leads her brood onto the deep Avaters of cither loch or river, keeping them in the 
shallows, Avhcrc there is less danger of their falling victims to the pike. On some of the larger sheets of Avatcr 
I noticed broods of young numbering only four or five, the remainder of the family having in all probability 
been snapped up by these freshwater sharks *. On one occasion (J uly 13, 1878), shortly before midnight, I 
surprised a brood resting on a spit of sand on the shores of a large loch ; picking our way quietly homewards 
by the water-side, no notice was taken of our approach till within a couple of paces, when with a tremendous 
splashing the wliole party fluttered and paddled out from the shore. 
The young birds figured in the Elate Avere hatched in one of the large pine-forests that stretch for miles 
along the mountain-sides in the Northern Highlands. After bringing licr brood down to tlio river-side, the 
female kept them for a Aveck or more about some small pools that afforded a shelter from the strength of the 
current ; as they increased in size, she Avorked steadily doAvn the course of the river, being usually seen about 
the shalloAVS, Avhcrc flat or sloping ledges of rock and stone enabled the young birds to leave the Avater Avithout 
difficulty. Being anxious to secure specimens previous to tlie feathers showing on the head and back, the 
brood had been examined on scA'eral occasions, and at last, Avhen about seven weeks old, I came to the 
conclusion that they Averc in the stage required. On searching for the family, consisting of the female and ten 
young, they Avere discovered resting on the stones in a Avide and shallow reach of the river, Avhere there Avas 
not the slightest chance of approaching Avithin range Avithout attracting attention ; the birds AA^cro also much 
scattered, rendering it doubtful if more than one or tAVO could have been obtained at a shot. From having 
frequently Avatched their actions, I Avas well aAvare that though, of course, incapable of flight, they could both 
SAvim and diA’C at a pace that rendered pursuit through the steep and rocky glen entirely out of question. As 
the party remained for several hours Avithout changing their position, beyond rising at times and stretching 
their necks and AAung-joints, I decided on attempting a drive. Having first taken up a position so as to 
command a narrow gorge Avhere the river SAvept down in a succession of falls between high slabs of rock, 
a keeper Avas despatched to shoAV himself beloAV the brood, and, if possible, induce them to move up-stream. I 
had previously remarked that Avhen bent on making their Avay in one particular direction, no amount of 
driving tliat Avas possible in such situations Avould force them against their aauII; consequently it AA^as 
satisfactory to sec the brood, one by one, drop off the ledges on Avhich they Avere resting, and with heads up- 
stream, paddle sloAvly in front of the dog which the keeper had sent out into the riA'cr. On nearing the rapids, 
I noticed the birds Avere SAvimming Avith only their heads showing al)Ove the AAatcr, Avhich in this part of the 
river daslied through the narroAV channel between the rocks Avith ti'cmendous force. A low Avhistle Avas 
frequently uttered ; but Avhether this Avas the note of the old bird or the cry of the young, it was impossible to 
* I inspedccl a fisli, wcigliing 22 lbs., that bad taken a bait while still containing the fresh remains of a couple of young birds of 
this species. 
